Page 31 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“No. Didn’t stay out there long enough. I just wanted to find who I was apart from being Coach Summers’ daughter.”

“And you thought coming to St. Michael’s, where he coaches one of the best college football teams in the country, would help with that goal?”

“Honestly? I didn’t have much choice. I get a scholarship with room and board included because my dad is on the faculty. It was a no-brainer that I came here instead of a college in London. The exchange rate will kill you.”

“But this isn’t where you want to be?”

I smile softly, letting out a low chuckle. “Spending Christmas locked in a jock house with you is never where I thought I’d be, but are any of us really where we want to be?”

Drew crosses his arms, smiling faintly. “I believe in fate. Therefore, I’m where I think I should be.”

“Of course you are. You live and breathe football. Indiana is home to one of the best football legacies in college history. Your dad went here. My dad coaches here. This place is perfect for you. But London. Well, London has drizzle, history and cool accents. London had everything I wanted, and most importantly, London didn’t have football as we know it.”

Drew smirks. “For someone who hates football so much, you sure do let it make a lot of decisions in your life.”

“No, I don’t.”

He raises a brow. “I’ve said it before, and I know you’re going to hate me for it, but isn’t that why you decided to date Jimmy during senior year?”

I purse my lips in annoyance. “No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, I am, thank you very much. I dated Jimmy because I was tired of being alone and watching my friends go on dates while I sat at home waiting for someone to show interest in me.”

His face falls. “Is that what you thought? That guys didn’t want to date you?”

I shrug. “I was a late bloomer. I didn’t need a bra until I was seventeen, and my braces didn’t come off for a few months after that. Combine that with an inability to wear contacts, and you’ve got the recipe for aShe’s All Thatstyle makeover. My dad always told me it was because I was intimidating and it would probably take until college for guys to see my worth.”

Drew chuckles. “Can’t believe you were so gullible. That’s not true at all. We all saw your worth in high school, B, but no one was willing to go against Coach Summers in fear of being benched.”

I roll my eyes. “You don’t need to make me feel better by rewriting the truth.”

“I’m not. Do you remember the freshman formal?”

“How could I forget?” I say sarcastically. “I went with Tony Scheffler because he was the only guy to ask me. It was my first date, but sadly, it ended when my hair got caught in his braces.” I wince, remembering the blood, but Drew howls in laughter. “It’s not funny. That’s why I had that stupid mullet for the rest of the year. I can’t say I’m shocked no one asked me out after that.”

“I liked the mullet; it looked like the cut Miley Cyrus got. I think it gave you an edge.”

I blow out a breath and cover my face. “Yeah, I’m sure you loved it because it was easy to mock me.”

“Nah, B. I liked it because I liked you.” My head shoots up. Did he just say what I think he did?

“Excuse me?” I choke out.

He’s got to be kidding. He’s just trying to make me feel better. Drew tips his chin and laughs. “Yeah, I know. It was back in the day before I knew just how much you hated me. Clearly, I’d had too many knocks in the head at that point. I thought you were avoiding me because you liked me, too.” My pulse quickens, and the little hairs on the back of my neck rise as he watches my every move, because, crap, had I made it obvious that I thought he was the hottest guy in our high school? “But I was young and naïve then. I was even planning on asking you to that stupid dance.”

“What stopped you from asking?” Although I can barely feel it, my toes are tipping in my cast, anxiously waiting for his answer.

“Same thing that stopped me from asking you to prom senior year. Someone else got there first.”

Was I dreaming? Drewlikedme in high school? I so badly want to ask more questions, but I don’t know where to start. My brain is too hung up on replaying things that make no sense.I liked it because I liked you.That couldn’t have been what he said. I’m just delirious or something.

“Anyway, enough of all this mushy stuff.” Drew waves his hand dismissively. “I’m going to go to bed.”

“But it’s not even six yet.” It’s all I can say because I’m still trying to process everything else.

“And tomorrow is Christmas, so I need to be prepared.”

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